For Immediate Release

November 8, 2001

2nd Round of Anthrax Threats Unleashed at Abortion Clinics

Feminist Majority Foundation Calls on Attorney General to Publicly Condemn Domestic Terrorist Act

Washington, DC. Less than one month after more than 250 abortion providers received anthrax threats, a new round of threats were sent yesterday to some 200 reproductive health clinics and several abortion-rights advocacy organizations, including the Feminist Majority Foundation, Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, Catholics for Free Choice, Advocates for Youth, and the American Association of University Women. The letters were sent via Federal Express and bore the return address of individuals affiliated with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America or the National Abortion Federation. The packages that were opened contained a white powder and a letter signed by the Army of God Virginia DARE cell. While the letters varied slightly in language, messages included: “You’ve ignored our earlier warnings. You’ve been exposed to the real thing. High-quality.”

“We call on Attorney General Ashcroft and FBI Director Mueller to publicly condemn this latest round of terrorist acts against our nation’s reproductive health clinics and to designate these acts of the Army of God as domestic terrorism,” said Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal. “This is a clear escalation in violence directed at women. We urge the Department of Justice and FBI to outline publicly their intentions to investigate and prosecute these acts and specify the penalties against individuals convicted of committing these crimes, in hopes of deterring future acts.”

Since 1982, the Army of God – a clandestine anti-abortion extremist group –has engaged in terrorist acts against abortion providers and clinics including kidnapping, bombing, and sniper-style murders and attempted murders.

“For more than 25 years, anti-abortion extremists have orchestrated a campaign of terror against abortion providers. They have now escalated their campaign of terror, using new methods of delivery and targeting larger populations. We call upon the Department of Justice to investigate those who commit, fund, aid, and/or abet such individuals. “

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